Joy Arlene Kirkland

Joy was born on Wednesday August 29, 1934, at 8 a.m. She was born at home in San Pedro, CA. She passed away on Tuesday November 11, 2025, in Yorba Linda, CA.

Joy was the youngest of five children born to George Raymond and Beulah Mae Margerum. She had three sisters: Jean, Loretta and Barbara and one brother Gerald. Joy spent the first 31 years of her life in San Pedro surrounded by her large, extended family. Job transfers for her husband created moves to Ventura, Fresno before finally settling in Orange. With each move Joy would get the new house set up, get the kids enrolled in new schools and join the local church. Joy’s faith was with her during her entire life. She lived her faith daily, quietly and by example. She shared her faith with her children, and she never stopped studying scripture. She spent time each day for her devotional and kept a lengthy list of family and friends that she was lifting up in prayer.

She graduated from San Pedro High School in June of 1952 and married her high school sweetheart, Bobby Dean Kirkland, on July 5, 1952. They were married at the San Pedro United Methodist Church where she remained a member until her passing.

They had four children together: Peggy (Loren), Bobby (Janie), Diane and Julie (Colin). Joy had eight grandchildren: Kristin (Richard), Lisa, Kevin (Heather), Kimberly (Matt), Traci (Tony), Janelle (Cameron), Conner and Kayla (Garrett) and 10 great-grandchildren: Ashley (Jaspur), Trevor, Valerie, Richard III, Kyndall, Lyla, Beckett, Georgina, Lola and Dawson.

Joy is pre-deceased by her beloved son Bobby Jr. in 2023, her son-in-law Dave Vaughn in 2022, her daughter-in-law Jackie Divine in 2024 and grandson-in-law Kevin De Angelis in 2015 along with her cherished parents and siblings.

In 1969 Joy was hired by the County of Orange to work at Albert Sitton Home (later to become Orangewood Children’s Home) to care for children who had been removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse. This was a stressful work environment that Joy handled with love and grace. Creating a safe space for these children was her passion and calling. She particularly loved working with the babies and toddlers. Overtime, she became a supervisor and then retired from the county in 1996. Upon retirement, Joy sold her home in Orange and moved to Leisure World Retirement Community in Seal Beach, California. Bringing her back to a beach community and closer to her hometown of San Pedro.

In addition to her family and friends, Joy’s passion was baseball, and she was forever a Chicago Cubs and Angels fan. She had season tickets for the angels and watched many games over the years at the Big A. She loved holidays, specifically decorating for the holidays. Her house was always decorated inside and out and while Christmas got the most decorations, she didn’t skimp on any of the other “lesser” holidays. She also loved reading, her charity work and embroidery. She kept in contact with family across the country via note cards, birthday cards and text messages. She was very proficient in her texting and use of emojis.

Joy appreciated all the cards and loving support from family and friends during her brief illness. In lieu of flowers, Joy has requested a contribution in her memory to any of her favorite charities that she spent years supporting. Following is a list of just a few of the charities that she supported: San Pedro United Methodist Church and its mission serving the San Pedro community; Habitat for Humanity, The Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission, The American Heart Association or City of Hope.

Joy was adored by her large circle of family and friends. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin and incredible friend. Her family will miss her heartfelt and loving manner. While her loss is immeasurable to us all, we are comforted by the lasting memories of her love, care, sense of humor and generosity. She was one of a kind and a true matriarch to our family.

Joy had kindness and acceptance to all and did not ever exhibit any prejudices toward any person. People naturally flocked to her because they could always sense her kind heart. We are comforted to know that she is now at peace and fully whole again in heaven and reunited with her precious loved ones who have gone on before. She will always be our beacon of light until we are all reunited.

Joy’s Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on:

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 11 am

At San Pedro United Methodist Church

580 West 6th Street San Pedro, CA